Shoulder Strength Imbalances as Injury Risk in Handball (original) (raw)

2013, International Journal of Sports Medicine

• ▶ sports injury prevention • ▶ rotator cuff strength • ▶ isokinetic • ▶ overhead sports • ▶ strength imbalance Shoulder Strength Imbalances as Injury Risk in Handball handball related injuries, as the fourth most prominent overall [ 20 , 24 ]. Furthermore, chronic shoulder pain appeared to be the most frequent symptom among the players (19 %) [ 24 ] , and acute shoulder injuries were not uncommon (1-9 %) [ 17 ]. Handball shoulder pathologies seem to be due to overuse and to micro-traumatic pathologies. Considering that handball players perform up to 48 000 throws per year, that the shoulder plays a major role in throwing performance [ 1 , 3 , 28 ] , and that the risk and rate of shoulder injury are high [ 17 , 24 , 28 ] , the prevention of shoulder injuries, by a structured step-by-step approach [ 2 , 27 ] , becomes a relevant and important focus. This is an especially important focus in the adolescent or youth female population, due to the high injury incidence, in order to prevent long-term or even permanent damage of the developing tissues and aff ected structures [ 5 , 26 ]. Among the intrinsic risk factors associated with the prevention of shoulder injury in handball players (such as modifi ed range of motion, scapulo thoracic dyskinesis, microinstability and muscle failure [ 29 , 31 ]), we chose to focus our Affi liations Affi liation addresses are listed at the end of the article Affi liations